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e.pilogue

Lee Minhyuk

[three years later]

"Listen, I love that you're being all cute with this but-" I tripped, reaching for the nearest support before I felt two arms grip me and a chuckle echoed behind me.

"Easy." Jooheon mused.

"This is exactly what I mean - I'm going to fall into a pothole and break my leg on my birthday."

"Minhyuk, there are no pot holes in the walk from the car to my house. And plus, I'm here - I'm your eyes for now."

I snorted. "Frankly, you're the blindest person I kn- NO NO DONT LET ME GO ON THE STEPSIM SORRYI'LLSTOP."

To that Jooheon simply laughed, continuing to lead me up on the steps as if I was some newborn foal. I wasn't sure of what was happening, or why I had been blindfolded since the train pulled into Daegu but I let it happen, hoping that this wasn't the way I would go.

"May I ask what's happening again?"

"Minhyuk, you're a police detective and a freshly graduated prosecutor; I think you have a slight idea of why you could possibly be blindfolded on your birthday," He replied. "no more steps, you can walk normally now."

"Is this your way of spicing things up?" I said meekly, greeted with a deep sigh chased by laughter. "What?"

"You'll soon see why you'll regret even thinking that's my intention," I felt his arms pull me into him. "I'll keep that in the idea box though."

"Is this just your thing?!" I practically yelled, causing him to laugh even harder. "Ever since before we were even together you'd say something incredibly sexual then act innocent, as if it doesn't make me want to-"

"Okay!" He cut me off. "but shut up. You like it."

"Shit, you're right. Now come on-"

"Wait, before we go inside because I don't want to do this inside," he stopped me short. "happy birthday. Like always, and I know you hate me saying this, but I'm glad that you decided to come to Paris, and I'm glad that we managed to work through our hard times and have stayed with each other all this time, and now more than ever I hope it lasts forever. Truly, divorces look like they're awful."

"I mean, apart from that I want to hope it's also because you love me."

"Of course, I do. I love you so much, Minhyuk."

"I love you too," I nearly shrieked, his words having melted me from the inside out. Awkwardly - and blindly - I reached for a hug to the best of my ability, peventually allowing him to just pull me into his arms.
It felt right, like ikr always did. It was home, whether we were here, on the other side of the world or on the moon. It was home.

"I love you too," I mumbled lamely into his shoulder again. "let's go inside before I soak through this blindfold."

"Of course," I felt his lips touch my forehead, and then his hand in mine. "come on.

After I heard the door close, it became deathly silent, all that was audible were the two of us breathing. And that was when Jooheon released my hand.

"Wait, where are you-"

"I'm here," his voice came from behind. "i'll take this off now. Ready?"

"Sure," I felt the thin fabric untie, falling loosely around my neck to reveal complete darkness. "I-"

"SURPRISE!"

"Oh my FUCKING GOD!" I screamed, cowering away from our family and friends who seemed to have appeared from thin air into Jooheon, who was practically crying with laughter.

"Oh, that's gonna be a good video," Kihyun chuckled, looking at his phone. "it looks like you saw a ghost."

"When did you all get here?"

"Like, last night. Jooheon suggested we threw you a surprise party, and given that we're all here, nobody thought twice about coming," Dad grinned. "that husband of yours is the mastermind behind all this."

I turned around slowly, greeted by a shy blush on his adorable cheeks. "You!"

"Yes, me. This is why I kicked you out of our room last night; I was making the plans! Do you know how hard it was for me to skip cuddles to plan - but I hope you aren't mad, I know you aren't a fan of surprises but-"

I reached for the collar of his shirt, pulling his lips to mine. Anxiety was fast to tug at me (especially when they all broke into cheers and whistles) but I ignored it, hoping that this accurately conveyed my exact feelings without the need for words.

"Whoa." was all Jooheon managed to say once we pulled away from each other, to which I just giggled.

"I love you."

"I love you too."

"Yes, we know! Now come blow out your candles before they completely burn out!" Hoseok grabbed arm, pulling me to the huge cake at the centre of the table, the rest of them gathering around me.

I felt Jooheon's arms wrap around my neck from behind. "Don't forget to make a wish, my love."

"I won't." I smiled, blowing the candles and closing my eyes tight as they cheered once again, and I felt a streak of cream be dragged across my cheek, until half of the icing was off the cake and on me, the room filled with laughter and happiness.

Wish come true.

[THE END]

whew,, it's actually the end I don't even know what to say
as always, I'd like to start by saying thank you for reading this book; like, I know my updates got kind of spaced out from September but you honestly don't know how much I planned and re-planned this book to make sure it went well and seeing all your lovely comments really kept me going. I'm eternally grateful for all your love and support, it means everything to me.

also, I would like to clarify something - this book does not intend to romanticise abuse or any of the mental issues mentioned in the slightest way. actually, this book promotes love; both towards others and yourself, and also hopefully shows anybody who may have been/is in Jooheon's position that there is a way out and you can be loved and heard. I hope that's the kind of message you took away from it too!

as always, I will most likely be back on Wattpad once I have a new plot idea (which i'll announce here too) but in the meantime you can find me on AO3 under the username 'jiminchoos' (where I have another MONSTA X fic + some BTS fics coming!!) And on Twitter @ lystaemin - PLEASE COME SAY HELLO I DONT BITE I LOVE MAKING NEW FRIENDS UWUWUWUWUWUWU

anyway, I hope you have a great day, and once again, thanks ever so much ♡

— Jess